How do I change the length of a diagonal segment to an exact length?

[howlback]

How do I change the length of a diagonal segment to an exact length? I need to maintain the same angle and position. See below:

The vertical/horizontal segments are 1/8" in length.

The angled segments are smaller and need to be 1/8" in length.

The angle segments need to stay in the same spot and just get equally wider on the ends until they reach 1/8".

[JETalmage · Accepted solution]

The Document Info palette, when set to Selection Only and Objects, will give you the length of a selected path. So you know the current length and the desired length. So:

1. Select a diagonal path.
2. DoubleClick the Scale Tool.
3. In the Uniform field, enter: Desired Length / Current Length * 100.

By default, when you doubleClck the Scale Tool, the center of transformation will be at the center of the selected straight path, so its angle and the center of its position will remain the same.

But your screenshot raises the question, why not just use a dashed stroke?

JET

[howlback]

You are a saint! I could kiss you.

[Omar.Fathy]

Why not to try making a dash line and it will make everything itself.

If you need to make a smaller copy of the object you can use Object>Path>Offset path and enter a negative value.

then go to stroke panel you can find it anywhere or from Window>stroke  and from it you can make a dashed line instead.

[Kurt Gold]

Also, state which version of Illustrator you are using.

In the latest versions there is another way in the Transform palette (given that the lines are so-called "shapes").